To the uninitiated, professional ice hockey and college hockey would appear to be almost the same sports. Both games are played on a rink that is 200 feet by 85 feet and both games use five skaters and a goalie on each team. However, several differences between the two versions of the sport give each one individuality.
Fighting Penalties
At the professional level, hockey players will occasionally square off and fight each other in an impromptu boxing match. Players engage each other, throw several punches and then the officials break up the fight. Once the fight is stopped, both players get five-minute fighting penalties. Both are allowed to return to the game after serving those penalties without any further ramifications. At the college level, fighting is not allowed. If two players square off and fight in the manner described previously, the players are disqualified from the game and are suspended for the next game. Additional fighting penalties during the season result in more harsh punishments to college players.
Helmets
Hockey players have been required to wear helmets at the professional level since the 1970s. Many pro players wear clear, plastic shields that extend down below the eyes to protect from errant sticks that could cause damage. However, those shields are not required. College players must wear helmets that have wire cages running the length of the face before they can take the ice.
No Red Line
In college hockey, no center red line comes into play. Once a player leaves his own defensive zone with the puck, he may pass or shoot the puck into the offensive zone without causing icing to occur. At the professional level, the players must cross the center ice red line before sending the puck into the offensive zone. If college games are played in arenas that have red lines painted at center ice, officials and players are instructed to ignore its existence.
Playoff Series
In professional hockey, teams engage each other in a best-of-seven playoff series. If games are tied at the end of regulation, sudden death overtime is played until one team scores a goal. In college hockey, teams may play a two-game mini-series to determine how teams advance. If teams split the two-game miniseries, a 20-minute mini-game is played after the conclusion of the second game. If the 20-minute mini-game is tied, sudden death overtime is played to determine the winner.
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